Oxford: Businesses say Oxfordshire Waste Partnership pilot is 'great success'

Oxford hospitality and catering businesses say a recycling initiative has made a big difference to the amount of food waste they dump in landfill, and helped cut costs. One leading city hotel group says the recycling initiative has cut the amount of food waste it dumps by 35%.The comments came at a food waste forum with a number of the 90 city hospitality and catering businesses that were involved in the free food waste collection trial.

The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) project was aimed at cutting the amount of food waste dumped unnecessarily in landfill. It involved Oxford City Council offering free food waste collections for three months to hospitality and catering businesses and others who have food waste as a big issue. The funding covered start up costs, such as bins, and showed businesses how recycling their food waste can help them save money in other areas, as well as boosting their green credentials.

Tom Ross, head of operations for Mogford, which includes The Old Bank and The Old Parsonage hotels, Gees Restaurant and Quod Brasserie & Bar, said: “The food waste trial has been a great success. The representatives from the council have been incredibly helpful with their support. Not only are we sending 35% less to landfill in only 3 months but we are also saving money doing it.”

OWP and the City Council are now encouraging those involved in the trial, and other Oxford businesses, to make food waste collections a regular part of their operations. Oxfordshire County Council Commercial waste reduction officer Gavin Hull, who led the project for the OWP, said: “The feedback from the businesses that took part in the forum was totally positive in terms of the amounts of food waste they were able to recycle rather than dump, and the impact that had on reducing their costs. What is very encouraging is that they’re sticking with the scheme even though their free trial period has ended because the benefits to their business outweigh the costs.”

The city-wide trial was funded by ReMade South East, a not-for-profit company which helps divert valuable waste away from landfill into new products. It was supported by a £55,000 grant awarded to Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council via Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. The service was offered free of charge by Oxford City Council for three months, before businesses had to chose whether to pay to continue having their food waste collected.

Once collected, the food waste is taken to Cassington, just outside Oxford, where it is treated by a process known as anaerobic digestion: composting without oxygen. This creates methane, which is captured and converted into renewable energy, generating enough electricity to power more than 4,200 homes. It also produces an excellent biofertiliser, known as digestate, which is spread on local farmland.

Resources: Oxfordshire Waste Partnership website